Back in July 2011, Derek Williams died in Milwaukee Police Department (“MPD”)
custody. Initially, both the MPD and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s
office cleared the MPD officers involved of any wrongdoing.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Gina Barton investigated the incident, and determined that the
Milwaukee County Medical Examiner missed key details regarding the arrest
and death of Mr. Williams. The
Journal Sentinel also obtained a copy of a video which shows Mr. Williams in the back of
an MPD squad car struggling to breathe and begging MPD officers for help.
For her efforts, Ms. Barton has won the prestigious George Polk Award,
which recognizes investigative and enterprising reporting. Read more about
Ms. Barton’s achievement in the
Journal Sentinel here.

The civil rights attorneys of Samster, Konkel & Safran, S.C. congratulate
Ms. Barton on winning the Polk Award. We represent Derek Williams’
three young children and their mother, and we will do all we can to make
sure that there in justice and accountability for the death of Mr. Williams.
We believe that good investigative reporters like Ms. Barton are crucial
to holding those in power accountable.